Tories praise David Cameron’s non-existent EU deal

David Cameron has been praised by fellow Conservatives for securing a "unique" deal for Britain at a crunch summit in Brussels — before a deal has been struck.

A group of 60 Tory party members, led by MP Nick Herbert, signed a letter saying that “for the first time since 1975 a British Prime Minister has returned from a summit with more powers than when they arrived," the BBC reported Friday.

The letter was sent as Cameron was still trying to persuade fellow EU leaders to back his plans for reforming the U.K.'s relationship with the EU ahead of an In/Out referendum that could be held as early as June.

The letter is from the group Conservatives for Reform in Europe, set up to support the prime minister from the Tory backbenchers.

The letter in full:

As Conservative activists who deliver leaflets, knock on doors, fundraise, hold office in the Party and represent our party in public elections, we fully support the deal the Prime Minister has negotiated which helps the U.K. secure a unique status in a reformed Europe.

We appreciate that very few British people approve of everything the EU does and that there is clearly a need for further and continuing reform. However, no one knows what BREXIT would look like and few would wish to risk our economic and national security without being certain of the alternative. We would be safer in a reformed Europe, for example, because we cooperate with our European neighbors on terrorism and crime.

Many Eurosceptics shout the loudest and are determined to disparage whatever deal the Prime Minister achieves. We take a more pragmatic approach. For the first time since 1975, a British Prime Minister has returned from a summit with more powers than when they arrived. In a reformed Europe, the U.K. would get the best of both worlds.